Miller supports call for Saugeen FN audit

Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Larry Miller supports a petition signed by Saugeen First Nations members calling for a "forensic audit" of the band finances.

He presented it in the Commons last Friday, then issued a news release Thursday to announce what he'd done. He doesn't agree with all petitions he presents but this one has a "legitimate point," he said in an interview from Ottawa.

"These alleged irregularities have been brought to my attention numerous times, several times in my 12 1/12 years. So it isn't the first time," Miller said.

"It's not for me to judge whether there are irregularities or there aren't. But when you hear from this many people, this many times. You know, it's like that old saying, where there's smoke there's fire, usually."

Saugeen First Nation Chief Lester Anoquot said in an interview he felt "blindsided" by the call for a forensic audit and pointed to a mandatory annual audit of band finances which was completed around last spring.

"There was no discrepancies, there was no shortfalls, an unqualified audit basically is a clean audit. So that's been done already. I don't know what Larry Miller thinks he would find."

Anoquot said the petitioners may be "disgruntled members of the community."

After the audit was done in June or July, it was presented in September or October at a poorly attended public meeting, he said. He said he's had no indication community members had such concerns. Anoquot considered it "fear mongering" to call for an audit. The annual audit is available to the public, he said.

"I would encourage Mr. Miller himself to read that audit before he goes off half-cocked in thinking what he's doing here. I certainly don't appreciate him interfering in our business either. It's really none of his business," Anoquot said.

"It's getting a little repetitions and tiresome I would think personally in my opinion. So you can record that if you want because I'm a little tired of Mr. Miller and his accusations."

Miller's news release says the petition calls on Indigenous Affairs and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett to instruct her department to audit Saugeen First Nation of band financial information concerning lease rents, service fees, casino revenue, housing and other finances.

The news release said "The petition was signed by several residents of Saugeen First Nation #29 who believe there are some discrepancies in the finances of the Saugeen First Nation reserve."

"The government has promised openness and transparency for all Canadians, and that includes indigenous peoples," Miller said in the release. "I urge the minister to listen to the concerns of the residents of Saugeen First Nation #29, and instruct her department to conduct a forensic audit of the Saugeen First Nation."

Miller said he wrote a letter to Bennett, around last spring to request a forensic audit, but didn't get a response.

He said he did so after a family on the reserve had approached him with concerns about suspected band financial "irregularities." He didn't want to release the names of the petitioners and invited The Sun Times to get a copy. But one official reached in the federal e-petitions office said names on petitions aren't provided upon request.

When the letter to the minister produced no results, the petition route was tried. But the first petition lacked the required 25 signatures and had to be re-submitted once that requirement was met, Miller said. He said the government must respond to all petitions.

"When you're dealing with taxpayers' money you can't have enough, you know, checks and balances in there. And if you're not doing anything wrong, there's nothing to worry about. So that should be the case here," he said.